NBA 3X Philippines set to kick off 2017 edition

2017 NBA3X

This past weekend, the NBA announced that the 2017 edition of NBA 3X in the Philippines will be graced by Steven Adams, Reggie Theus, and by the Laker Girls.

The other half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's Stache Bros, Adams is "looking forward to meeting the Filipino fans and experiencing the country's vibrant culture." He adds, "I'm also excited to work with the talented athletes from across the Philippines at NBA 3X." The Kiwi big man and Pitt alum averaged 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a block this past season.

Theus played 13 seasons in the NBA, before making the transition to coaching, which included a stint as a head coach with the Sacramento Kings. He now is the head coach at Cal State-Northridge, where Kobe Paras is set to resume his NCAA career after transferring out of Creighton. He says, "This will be my first trip to the Philippines, and I can't wait to see the passion Filipinos have for the game of basketball. With the inclusion of 3-on-3 basketball in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, NBA 3X is a testament to the growth and popularity of the game internationally.

NBA 3X is the league's foray into the 3x3 tournament, with men's and women's teams from different age groups tangle across different divisions. For the 2017 edition presented by AXA Philippines, there will be a preliminary tournament set to take place at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, scheduled on July 15-16. Results from that prelims will determine the finalists that will participate at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, which will take place on July 22-23. The finals will also be spiced up with the NBA level entertainment.

In addition, the NBA will have a NBA Cares event on July 19 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines' College of Engineering with 10-14 year-old kids.

Registration is already ongoing for the different divisions on a first-come, first-served basis. There are five men's divisions (U-13, U-16, U-18, Open), and two women's divisions (U-16, Open). Of course, there will be a by-invitation-only Celebrity Division, and new division that is exclusive for AXA Philippines employees and distributors. Just head to www.nba3x.com/philippines for further details.

According to AXA Philippines President and CEO Raul Hora, "We are excited to partner with NBA 3X Philippines and see this as a platform to elevate 3-on-3 basketball in the country. In the same way that we assist clients in making sound financial decision, we look forward to seeing boys and girls of all ages showcase their skills, exhibit teamwork, and execute their gameplan to win on and off the court. With Steven, Reggie, and the Laker Girls in attendance, this event is a great opportunity to provide the NBA experience to fans."

Aside from AXA Philippines, the 2017 edition of NBA 3X Philippines has CloudFone, Globe at Home and Globe Prepaid, and Panasonic as its official partners, with SM Mall of Asia and Spalding as supporting partners. Official broadcast coverage is possible with ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.